When the Lights Went Out?

On Friday, June 29^th, I was laying in bed freshly showered – practically depleted from the activities of the week. My plan was to lie in bed and watch Bill Maher as I drifted off to sleep. Yes--I know it was an action packed Friday night fit for a 27 year old, lol! After chatting it up with KJ for an hour, I hopped onto Twitter one last time. Much to my surprise, I began to see tweets such as “Praying for my folks in Baltimore & DC” and “DMV stay safe.” Completely baffled, I continue to read my timeline until I saw a tweet that said “Thunderstorms with 91 MPH winds headed towards DC & Baltimore.” YIKES!!

Just as my Twitter timeline had predicted, the storms arrived. However not only did they come, those storms showed up and SHOWED OUT! For the first time in my life I was genuinely afraid of the sound of thunder and the strikes of lightening. I asked Jesus to be roof protection and a generator for my house and drifted off to sleep. *Chuckles* When I awoke the next morning, I learned that millions of homes in the area were without electricity. Thankfully, I still had power and the roof was still attached to my house. I guess God heard my prayer, lol!  I went to grab my phone to do my customary morning social media check and noticed that my iPhone was not loading. I grabbed my iPad, and nothing. I turned on my television, nothing. My internet and cable services were out--obviously affected by the storm.

And so it began—what would ultimately be several days without telecommunications services. What in the world was I going to do without Internet access? I NEEDS my Internet!! No, really I do! I own thousands of dollars of Apple products that are useless without Internet. The days continued to pass with no Internet, no cable, and no phone. Every night I would come home and lie in the bed and end up going to sleep early because there was nothing else to do. I could have organized my other bedrooms that are in disarray. I could have hung photos that I have been meaning to hang. But I didn’t do either of those things; I went to sleep. Until last night.

Last night I really thought about what the lesson could be in this. Why did the Universe strip me of these distractions for a few days? What should I be doing instead? It hit me--and just like that…I started it. I started what I had been putting off for months, maybe even years. I am not ready to share this thing yet, but you guys will find out soon, I promise. And I kid you not, within 15 minutes of my starting my delayed task; I heard a familiar sound – an iPad alert! My internet was restored. Then I turned on the television and there was Usher dancing around my screen on VH1Soul. Ha! The Universe is funny. God is funny. I just had to take that step and act.

During your moments, hours or days without electricity or internet, did you stop to think about what you could be doing instead of complaining? Did you play games with your children? Talk with your spouse? Make a plan for the future? Walk/Run a mile? Finish a book? Did you do something? Anything?! Sometimes the Universe has to take drastic measures to get our attention. Last Friday’s storm caused major headaches and uncomfortable situations for many, but maybe it sparked something inside of you. Nature snatched away everyday luxuries that we often take for granted. And I, for one, am glad that when the switch was flipped back on, I wasn’t in the same place that I was 5 days ago. I hope you aren’t either!

Here’s to our new journeys!

A

You Gotta Have Faith?

Sometimes in life, it seems as though everything in the world just goes wrong. One thing after another -- nothing in the universe seems to be going as planned. Yesterday, a loved one told me that they had “hit rock bottom.” When I heard those words escape the lips of their mouth, I instantly thought, “rock bottom, hmm.” Yes their current situation is stressful and not ideal, but rock bottom? I didn’t think so.

When things don’t seem to be going your way and nothing seems to be going as well as you hoped, it’s the universes’ way of grabbing your attention. Sometimes it can be something small like a broken ankle or not knowing how the bills are going to get paid. Every action in your life is happening to make you aware of something that needs change. Maybe God needed you to sit and be still, hence your broken ankle. Or maybe God needed you to appreciate what you currently have in your possession and end your need of wanting more, so there is not enough money to go around to cover your bills.

In my young life, I have learned God takes you to a situation to deliver you from your situation. It seems like things keep getting worse, but in the midst of that turmoil could be your next blessing. If you know me, you are probably reading this thinking this post uncharacteristically “religious." :) However, my elders taught me to not only have faith in God, but to also continue to work in God. One cannot have faith if they worry. Faith cannot exist harmoniously with doubt. When trouble comes, don’t get frustrated and give up – I encourage you to have faith and know that your next blessing could quite possibly be on the other side of the obstacle.

A

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

- Hebrews 11:1 KJV

BLACK GIRLS F@#KING ROCK!!

Kudos to BET!!! Black Girls Rock was a great presentation and display of the accomplishments of several great black women. The show was absolutely incredible!!! It has been a long time since I watched anything on BET and walked away feeling empowered. I mean I literally died, went to heaven, saw St. Peter, the feet of the Lord while Jill, Ledisi, Marsha, and Kelly performed. Then I went back and revisited my Lord when Tasia, Ledisi, Marsha, and Kelly performed. BET needs to know that that really was the best two hours of anything they have aired in the past 10 years! :-)

However after the show wrapped, I logged onto Facebook to see the status below:

“im going to always be pro women. I believe in building up our women. but if I wasnt to tired id go in on the fact that our women have to wait until tyler perry movies or the I rock on bet to realize their strength and self worth. sincerely frustrated bachelor.”

*deep sigh* BBM sad face, KIK angry face….all that shit!! Where do I begin!

My first thought was really?!? Really dude, really?!?! Black women know that they are awesome. We do not need or request that Tyler Perry speak for us and measure our strength and self worth. We do not need or request that BET air Black Girls Rock, however in this day and age its is needed and necessary. Black women do not often receive the praise of their worth. More often than not, we are broadcast in popular culture as oversexed-ghetto-neck-rolling-gum-popping individuals or downtrodden-angry-bitter-always-gonna-be-single individuals.

It is nice when there are other representations of the vast fabric of African-American women. Presentations and examples of black women doing all of the things she is capable of doing are refreshing to see in the media. Shows like Black Girls Rock aren’t needed to show us our worth, but a lovely reminder of how great we really are and to showcase that greatness to the world, all while appreciating the undertakings of other great black women!

I for one am self aware of my worth, strength, courage, fears, triumphs, desires, wants, and needs; I am surrounded by so many beautiful strong black women who are equally self aware. So black men, please don’t stop uplifting us and don’t misunderstand the intentions of those who choose to give us a voice, publicly acknowledge, and uplift us either!

A